Plate or pan handling utensil



Nov. 6, 1923..

J H M DONALD PLATE 0R PAN HANDLING UTENSIL Filed Dec. 9. 1922 2 sheets-sheet 1 Nov. 6 1923.

J. H. MCDONALD PLATE 0R PAN HANDLING UTENSIL Filed Dec. 9, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 amazing:

Patented Nov. 6, 1923.

JAMES H. MCDONALD, 0F POGATELLO, IDAHO- PLATE OR PAN HANDLING UTENSIL.

Application filed December 9, 1922.

ger of burning the hands and with a minimum amount of exertion.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 represents a top plan view of the device constituting this invention with parts broken out for convenience in illustration.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation with parts broken out.

Fig. 3 is a detail transverse section taken in a plane at right angles to Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a detail plan view of a portion of the handle constituting a part of the utensil.

Fig. 5 is a detail side elevation of a portion of one of the clamping members.

Fig. 6 is a detail side elevation of one member of the universal joint construction atthe inner end of the handle, and

Fig. 7 is a detail side elevation of a portion of the joint.

In the embodiment illustrated, the device constituting this invention comprises a convexo-concave central member 1 having a laterally extending circular flange 2 at its perimeter on which is mounted to revolve an annular member 3, it being shown grooved to receiveflange 2. This member 3 has a quarter ring gear 4 fixed to its upper face for a purpose presently to be described.

-A- handle 5 has a head 6 at its inner end which is rigidly secured to the member 1 as is shown clearly in Fig. 3. This handle member 5 has an enlarged hand grip 7 at Serial No. 605,950.

its outer end, at the inner end of which on opposite sides of the handle portion 5 are bearings 8 and 9 in which are journaled rods 10 and 11 and which carry pinions 12 and 13 designed to mesh with arcuate racks 14 and 15 carried by sector-shapedmembers l6. and 17, the smaller end or apicesof which are pivotally mounted on a stud 18 j ournaled on the handle 5 as is shown clearly in Figs. 1and4. The rod 11 carries on its inner enda pinion 20 which meshes with the rack 4 so that when this pinion 20 is turned by compressing the sector-shaped member 17, the member 3 will be turned bodily carrying with it the plate clamping members presently to be described. 1

The rod' 10 is. journaled in suitable bearings on the handle 5 and at itsinnerend is connected by a series of universal joints 21 with a pinion 22 which pinion is journaled" at its inner end which extends through the member land is secured thereto by a nut 25, i

said standard 23 being mounted to turn freely relatively to the member 1; The opening 26 in which the pinion 22 is mounted is, of greater lengththan the diameter of said pinion providing spaces on opposite sides thereof in which are slidably mounted rack bars 27 and 28 carried by clamping members 40 and 50.

Three of the universal joints 21 are here shown and which are constructed as shown inv detail in Fig. 6, comprising twotelescopically engaged members 29 and 30, the outer member 29 having a bifurcated head 31 for pivotal connection with the adjacent member of the joint 'while the member30 is provided at its inner end with a T-sha ed head to normally hold these members in retracted position and to return them to this position after they havebeen separated or drawn apart. The .pinion 22 has a laterally extending shank 36 projecting centrally from one face 7 thereof and which forms a journal for said ward from points midway theirlengths as issh'own clearly in Fig. 1. The rack bar or arm 27 has an ofi'set 42 so as to position said bar 27 in av plane above the bar-.28 and adapt it to operate through the standard 23 above the pinion 22, the rack bar 28 extending below said pinion and the pinion meshing with both of them so .that when it is turned it will operate to move said rack bars toward or away from each other at the will of the operator. V V

Rising from the member 3 at diametrically opposite points are two standards 43 r and 44 each of which is equipped with vertically spaced openings for the passage therethrough of therack bars 27 and 28, each of which passes through both of said standards as is shown clearly in Fig. 2, whereby said bars are guided in their movement and reliably held engaged with the pinion 22.

The outer ends of the rack bars 27 and 28 which are telescopically engaged with the arms 41 and 51 are held in adjusted position in said arms by set screws 46 to adapt the bars to be lengthened or shortened for spacing the clamping members 40 and 50 greater or less distances apart according to the pans in connection with which they are to be used. In the use of this utensil, the parts being in the position shown in Fig. l with the clamping members 40 and 50 positioned over a pan to be lifted, the clamping members are reliably engaged with the pan by pressing the sector member 16 inwardly through its operating handle 16 which causes the rod 10 to be rotated through engagement of the sector 14 with the pinion carried by the outer end of said rod which thereby rotates pinion 22 and moves it through the rack bars 27 and 28 toward each other securely clamping the plate between the jaws 40 and 50. When so connected, the plate may be lifted for insertion or removal'or for any other purpose.

When it is desired to turn the plate in the oven, the sector-shaped member 17 is pressed inwardly which through engagement of said rack bar 15 with the pinion 13 at the outer end of rod 11 rotates said: rodand turns the pinion 20 carried by its inner end and there by rotates the member 3 carrying with it the clamping members 40 and 50 between which the plate is mounted. To release the device from the pan, pressure is relieved on the member 16, which through the spring carried by the sector .2. A plate or pan handling utensil com-.

prising a handle member, clamping jaws carried by said member,:compressible meanson the handle connected to move said jaws toward and away from each other, and other compressible means on the-handle connected to rotate the jaws in unison.

In a device ot the class described, a hendle having a member fixed to one end thereof, a member mounted to revolve on said fixed member, a rack carried by said revolubic member, a pair of clamping jaws carried by said revoluble member, a rod rotatably mounted on said handle and having a pinion meshing with said rack whereby the turning of said rod will revolve the member carrying said rack, and means for rotating said rod.

4. In a device of the class described, a handle having a member fixed to one. end thereof, a member mounted to revolve on said fixed member, a rack carri d by said revoluble member, a pair of clamping carried by said revoluble member, a rod rotatably mounted on said. handle and having a pinion meshing with saidrack whereby the turning of sa d rod will revolve the member carrying said rack, compressible means for rotating said rod, and means for returning said compressible means to normal position.

5. In a device of the class described, a handle having a member fixed to one end thereof, a member mounted to revolve on said fixed member, a rack carried by said revoluble member, a pair of clamping jaws carried by said revoluble member, a rod rotatably mounted on said handle and having a pinion meshingwith said rack whereby the turning of said rod will revolve the member carrying said rack, means for rotating said rod, another rod rotatably mounted on said handle, a pinion carried by said fixed member withcwhich said last mentioned .rod is connected, rack bars carried by said jaws and meshing with saidpin'ion whereby the turning out the pinionwill move said jaws toward or away from each other,

6. In a device of the class described, a handle having a member fixed to one end thereof, a member mo'untedto revolve on said fixed member, a rack carried by said revoluble member, apair of clamping jaws carried by said revoluble member, .a rod detachably mounted on said handle and hav ing a pinion meshing with said rack whereby the turning of said rod will revolve the ried by said jaws and meshing with said pinion whereby the turning of ,the pinion will move said jaws toward or away from each other.

7.- In a device of the class described, a handle having a member fixed to one end thereof, a member mounted to revolve on said fixed member, a rack carried by said revoluble member, a pair of clamping jaws carried by said revoluble member at diametrically opposite points and adapted to grip an object to be handled, said jaws having arms provided with rack bars extending in opposite direction and in parallel planes, a pinion mounted on said fixed member and meshing with said rack bars, and means for rotating said pinion for moving said jaws toward and away from each other.

8. In a device of the class described, a handle having a member fixed to one end thereof, a member mounted to revolve 'on said fixed member, a rack carried by said revoluble member, a pair of clamping jaws carried by said revoluble member at diametrically opposite points and adapted to grip an object to be handled, said jaws havmg arms provided with rack bars extending in opposite directions and in parallel planes, a pinion mounted on said fixed member and meshing with said rackbars, a rotary rod carried by said handle and having a universal joint connection at its inner end with said pinion, and means for rotating said rod.

9. In a device of the class described, a handle having a member fixed to one end thereof, a member mounted to revolve on said fixed member, jaws carried by said revoluble member at diametrically opposite points and adapted to grip an object ,to be handled, said jaws having arms provided with rack bars extending in opposite directions and in parallel planes, a pinion mounted on said fixed member and meshing with said rack bars, a rotary rod carried by said handle and having a universal joint connection at its inner end with said opening, means for rotating said rod, said universal joint including spring retracted longitudinally extensible members.

10. Ina device of the class described, a handle having a member fixed to one end, an annular member revoluble on said fixed member, oppositely extending jaws carried by said revoluble member at diametrically opposite points, a rack on the upper face of said revoluble member, a rotatable pinion carried by said handle, and engaging said rack whereby the revoluble member is turned and the jaws carried thereby.

. in testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

7 JAMES H. MGDONALD.- Witnesses:

E. E. BYER, '4

GLADYs EVANS. 

